Electrical self-playing musical instrument.



No. 709,295. Patented Sept. I6, I902.

H. E. BEACH. ELECTRICAL S ELF PLAYING MUSiCAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application. filed Sept. 3, 1901.)-

(No Model.)

v 1 r w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. BEACH, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS,TO G. HOTVLETT DAVIS, OF LLEWELLYN PARK, WEST ORANGE,

NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICAL SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,295, datedSeptember 16, 1902.

Application filed September 3, 1901. Serial No. 74,053. (N model- To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY E. BEACH, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Newark, State of New Jersey, have invented 5 certain newand useful Improvements in Electrical Self-Playing Musical Instruments,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to self-playing musical instruments of the classwherein the I0 playing devices are actuated by means of a friction-shoebrought into engagement with a revolving roller or drum by the action ofan electromagnet.

My invention is designed more particularly for use with self-playingattachments for pianos, wherein a pivoted shoe is connected with orcarries a striker-rod'which actuates the striker or hammer of the pianoin the usual way. A form of an electric self-playing 2o piano mechanismoperating upon this general plan is described in the patent to G. H.Davis, No. 546,582. In apparatus of this character it is desirable toprovide not only for an adjustment of the angle-bar or transverse rodwhich carries the bank of magnets and friction-shoes to permit them tobe adjusted as a whole to and from theactuating roller or drum, but itis also desirable to provide for the adjustment of the friction-shoesindividually to provide for diiferences of individual wear or for otherpurposes.

The main purpose of my present invention is to provide a mechanismwherein both of these adjustments may be eifected without disturbing theadjustment of the armature of the electromagnet with relation to itspoles, or, in other words, without varying the air-gap, although thechief utility of my invention lies in the capacity for individual adjustment without disturbing the air-gap.

To these ends my invention consists, first, in connecting the armatureand pivoted shoe by devices which are capable of extension orcontraction to vary the distance of the shoe from the actuating-drum andin attaching to the armature or to the connections a stop device whichis capable of maintaining its set or adjusted position despite anyadjustment of the extensible and contractible connection between thearmature and shoe.

My invention consists further, broadly, in

the combination, with the magnet, its armature, and friction-shoeactuated thereby, of suitable positive stop devices limiting the backstroke of the armature under the action of the usual spring, but mountedor connected with the armature and magnet in such manner that they willmove with the same when the bar or angle-piece carrying the bank ofmagnets is adjusted to simultane- 6o ously adjust the whole bank offriction-shoes to and from the actuating-roller.

My invention consists, further, in the special combinations of deviceswhereby the ob jects of my invention are effected, or as moreparticularly hereinafter set forth and as specified in the claims.

The accompanying drawings show one of the forms of apparatus in which myinvention may be embodied.

Figure 1 is a cross-section through the anglebar or support whichsupports the gang of magnets for a self-playing piano and through therevolving actuating roller or drum and shows in side elevation one ofsaid magnets, together with the friction-shoe and strikerrod actuatedthereby. Fig. 2 shows in section a detail of the construction. Fig. 3 isa front elevation showing two of the striker-rods and actuatingmechanism atone end of the frame in which they are mounted or supported.

2 indicates an electromagnet, preferably of the horseshoe form,supported on the bar 3, which extends across the face of the instrumentand is adjustable up and down toward the actuating-drum 4. The two coresof the electromagnet set directly upon the bar 3, which acts as a yoketherefor and which is preferably of the angle form, as shown, to affordat one sidea support for the armature 0 of said electromagnet. Thearmature is preferably attached to spring 5, which is secured by a screw6 to the bar 3, as clearly indicated, and which may, if desired. beadjustable up and down on said bar. The spring5 5 acts as aretractor-spring to retract the armature from the pole of the magnetafter each operation in playing a note.

8 indicates the friction-shoe, which carries the striker-rod 9 in theusual or any proper r00 manner. This friction-shoe is connected with thearmature 4:, preferably by the rod 10, and

is pivoted upon a head or block 11, capable of adjustment upon the rod10, to vary the distance of the shoe from the roller 1. Each shoe of thegang or range of shoes employed in the attachment is similarly supportedor connected with the armature to afford an extensible and contractibleconnection and permittheadjustmentdescribed. Alsoattached to the rod 10,but independently of the block or head 11, is a collar or stop 14, whichby engagement with the bar 3 or other part carried thereby limits thebackward throw of the armature 4 and determines the width of theair-gap. The collar or stop 14 is preferably also made adjustable uponthe rod 10 to permit the extent of the air-gap to be nicely regulated oradjusted, which, as will be seen, can be accomplished without disturbingthe adjustment of the connection 11 between the armatu re and shoe.Also, as will be evident, after the adjustment of the air-gap by thestop 14 the connection of the shoe with the armature may beadjusted'without disturbing the adjustment of the air-gap.

When it is desired to adjust the whole range of magnets andfriction-shoes with relation to the drum, this can be effected by movingthe bar 3 on its support and Without in any manner disturbing theadjustment of the stop that determines the width of the air-gap andwithout disturbing in any manner the individual adjustments of thesprings for the several friction-shoes in the whole gang or rangecarried by the bar 3.

I do not limit myself to the special construction of the devices forpermittingan adjustment of the connection between the armature and theshoe independently of the stop nor to the special construction of thestop device for the armature. It will also be obvious that my inventionis not limited to any particular construction of magnet or manner ofsupporting the same nor to the form of bar 3 or manner of adjustingit toadjust the whole range of friction-shoes. Also the connection of thefriction-shoe with the strikerrod or the manner of operating the samefrom the shoe form no part of my present invention, which is applicablenot only to selfplaying pianos, but to other musical instruments.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a self-playing musicalinstrument, the combination substantially as described,

of a friction-shoe and actuating-drum and an electromagnet, of anextensible connection connecting the armature of the electromagnet andfriction-shoe, and an adjustable stop device also carried by thearmature and capable of adjustment independently of the adjustableconnection between the armature and shoe.

2. In a self-playing attachment for musical instruments, the combinationsubstantially as described of a friction-drum, a frictionshoe, anelectromagnet, an armature connected with said shoe, a support for thearmature and magnet adjustable toward and from the drum, and stopdevices for the armature whereby the air-gap may be limited, said stopdevices being carried by the armature and magnet support and bothmovable therewith when said support is adjusted to and from the drum.

3. In a self-playing attachment for musical instruments, the combinationwith a bank of magnets, armatures and spring-retracted friction-shoes,of adjustable stop devices foreach armature of the bank, an adjustablebar or angle-piece supporting all of said parts, retracting-springs forsaid armatures wholly supported by said bar, and an actuating roller ordrum with reference to which said bar or angle-piece is adjustable.

4. The combination in a self-playing musical instrument, of the bar 3carrying the gang of magnets, an armature, an armaturerod 10 connectedto said armature, a pivoted friction-shoe adjustably supported upon therod, an adjustable collar 14 upon said rod and an operating roller ordrum 4, as and for the purpose described.

5. In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination of anelectromagnet, an actuating-drum, a pivoted shoe, an armature, a stopdevice adapted to limit the movement of the parts on the back stroke ofthe armature to limit the width of the air-gap, and an adjustableconnection between the armature and shoe adjustable independently ofsaid stop devices, as and for the purpose described.

Signed at Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, this29th day of August, A. D. 1901.

HARRY E. BEACH. Witnesses:

GEORGE W. GUNTHER, RUFUS MEAD.

